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White Men Can't Jump

Ron Shelton(1992)

115min

15 Certificate

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Review

Our Score

by John Ferguson

Writer/director Ron Shelton is that rare beast: someone who can make movies with wit, warmth and perception about American sports. This is a marvellous tale about two basketball players (Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson) who make their living hustling fellow street players around Los Angeles. The plot is fairly simplistic, but the pleasure comes from Shelton's fizzing foul-mouthed dialogue, the charismatic performances of the two stars and the superbly choreographed basketball sequences. And, as an added bonus, even Rosie Perez, as Harrelson's girlfriend, manages to stay the right side of irritating.

Summary

A basketball hustler working Los Angeles' courts uses his goofy appearance to lull his opponents into a false sense of security. He forms an uneasy alliance with a fellow conman and rival to make a financial killing, but his debts soon catch up with both of them. Ron Shelton's comedy, starring Woody Harrelson, Wesley Snipes and Rosie Perez.